Oyston heckled during ‘harrowing’ meeting as tensions rise with fans again

William Watt

Owen Oyston was heckled and abused as he left a ‘harrowing’ meeting with Blackpool’s fans as tensions once again rose between the club and its supporters.

The Seasiders owner made a shock appearance at Blackpool Supporters Trust’s open meeting on Saturday afternoon, in an attempt to help solve some of the long running differences.

Tensions ran high as Owen Oyston met with Blackpool fans on Saturday

And after taking to the stage to chants of ‘Oyston Out’, the owner was heckled throughout as he took questions from the floor.

Around 400 supporters, including club legend Jimmy Armfield, spent more than an hour questioning Oyston about the club’s recent decline, legal issues, Valeri Belekon and his intentions for the club going forward.

Oyston began the meeting by apologising to supporters for the current situation, saying: “I’m saddened by the strong feelings I heard and some of the comments.

“I do sincerely apologise for the dire football we’ve experienced over the last two years.

Tensions ran high as Owen Oyston met with Blackpool fans on Saturday

“It’s been awful, I hate it and I hate being in League Two. Every morning I think of ways we can resolve the situation.”

Ahead of Oyston taking to the stage a show of hands showed just six people in the room were considering renewing their season ticket for the coming League Two season.

And as the questions started to flow, it was clear legal action against supporters was a key issue.

Former chairman of BST, Tim Fielding, who himself was subject to legal action, said: “What people in this room want you to say is that all legal litigation and threats of legal litigation will stop, we can never ever move forward until it does.”

Tensions ran high as Owen Oyston met with Blackpool fans on Saturday

And while Oyston insisted he and his family were correct to sue, he promised there would be no fresh action taken by the club.

Oyston said: “We have agreed not to do any more suing and that’s a fact.

“We are to complete the existing cases, but we are trying to bring these actions to a close.